printable versions: [.pdf] [.doc]
David Quist
Environmental Science, Policy and Management
University of California
151 Hilgard Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720-3110 USA
+1 510.599.5275 (office)
+1 510.643.5098 (fax)
dquist@nature.berkeley.edu |
 ©Genevieve Shiffrar |
Summary of Qualifications
Research: GMO detection and risk analysis, technical training, development of analytical tools for GMO identification
Teaching: Communication of scientific information to the public, policymakers, laboratory training for GMO detection
Consulting: Provides consulting on GMO risk and technical capacitation to governments and civil groups worldwide
Media: Extensive experience with radio, film and print media to communicate scientific issues to the general public
Interdisciplinarity: Utilizes multiple scientific disciplines and social perspectives for research and policy analysis
Outreach: Participates in lectures, workshops, and conferences on public advocacy-based GMO biosafety research
Research emphasis and expertise
First and foremost, as a scientist, I am dedicated to research that protects the public interest, and believe strongly in independent studies on the impacts of new (bio)technologies that have far reaching biological, environmental and social consequences. Following our discovery of transgenic DNA introgressed into the traditional maize landraces in Oaxaca, Mexico (See Quist & Chapela, Nature (2001) v.416 p.541-543), I have focused my investigations on the ecological and genetic diversity implications of transgenic DNA movement into Mexican maize. Genetically engineered DNA is an excellent marker system for studying horizontal (across species boundaries) and vertical (sexually, within species) modes of DNA transfer. This research provides important insights into the evolutionary and ecological significance trans-Kingdom DNA transfers in the environment and in the food supply. Building on this framework, more holistic questions on gene function and expression can be addressed—including the external influences and internal complex processes (biotic, abiotic and anthropogenic) that contribute to epigenetic effects within organisms—with an eye on how these influence the evolution and safety of these organisms.
In the public sphere, I have considerable experience with technical capacitation of biosafety research analysis for government agencies, NGOs and local communities. Within my research, I have developed new protocols for efficient and high throughput analysis of various plant samples for DNA-based GMO detection and analysis.
Education
• Ph.D., Environmental Science, Policy & Management, Univ. of California, Berkeley 1998-2004.
• B.Sc., Botany (w/honors), U of Washington, Seattle, cum laude. GPA: 3.75. 1994-1996
• A.A., Seattle Central Community College, Seattle, WA. 1991-1993
Professional experience
• Visiting Scholar, Norwegian Institute of Gene Ecology, Tromsø, Norway. 2003
• Graduate Student Researcher, ESPM, University of California, Berkeley. 1998-2004
• Consultant, Resource Conservation and Management, GMO issues. 1999-present
• Researcher, Department of Botany, Field Museum, Chicago, IL. 1997-1998
Publications
Quist, D., 2004. Transgene ecology: An ecological perspective for GMO risk assessment. In: Breckling B & Verhoeven R (eds) Risk Hazard Damage - Specification of criteria to assess environmental impact of genetically modified organisms. Bonn, Bundesamt für Naturschutz, Naturschutz und Biologische Vielfalt 1:239-244
Quist, D., 2003. Putting Genes in Chloroplast Not "Environmentally Friendly”. ISIS 17:1 24-26.
Quist, D. & Chapela, I.H., 2002. Communications Arising: Response to criticism of "Transgenic DNA introgressed into traditional maize landraces in Oaxaca, Mexico". Nature 416: 602
Quist, D. & Chapela, I.H., 2001. Transgenic DNA introgressed into traditional maize landraces in Oaxaca, Mexico. Nature 414: 541-543.
Quist, D; Garbelotto, M; Wu, D.P; Weber, M; and Chapela, I.H., 2000. Diversidad ectomicorrícica de Oreomunnea mexicana (Juglandaceae) en la Sierra Juárez, Oaxaca: Consideraciónes ecologicas de la micotrofía en comunidades forestales monodominantes. Boletin de la Reunión Iberoamericana y III Symposium Nacional sobre Simbiosis Micorrízica, p. 62.
Seidl, Michelle, Liu, Yajuan, Rogers, Scott, Quist, David and Ammirati, Joe. 2000. Another view of the genus Cortinarius. Abstract in: MSA Bulletin p. 68.
Quist, D, Garbelotto, M, and Chapela, I.H., 1999. Mycorrhizal ecology of Oreommunea: Implications of fungal community structure on plant distribution and diversity. Preliminary investigations in the Sierra Juarez, Oaxaca, Mexico. Abstract in: Libro de resúmenes del III Congreso Latinoamericano de Micología, p. 99-100.
Wu, Q-X.; Mueller, G.M, Quist, D. and Huang, Y-Q, 1998. Preliminary assessment of macrofungal diversity in the temperate forests of Chang Bai Mountain, China. Abstract in: Mycological Soc. of Am Ann. Mtg, Inoculum 48: 7.
Quist, D. and J.F. Ammirati, 1996. Assessing the mycorrhizal potential of Xylaria sp. in epiphytic Orchidaceae. Abstract in: First International Conference on Mycorrhizae (ICOM I), Bulletin, p. 99.
Laboratory Experience and Related Skills
I have extensive experience with standard laboratory practice and safety. My particular area of lab expertise involves the design, troubleshooting and analysis of PCR-based detection methods to detect genetically modified organisms. This includes multiplex and RT-PCR protocols (from plant tissue and seed tissue), and TAIL-PCR for molecular characterization and quantitative PCR applications. I routinely use other various PCR-based analyses, including RFLPs, AFLPs, Southern and dot-blot hybridizations, gene walking (TAIL-PCR, iPCR and AL-PCR), DNA sequencing (ABI 310 and 377), and micro-array hybridization and analysis. I have experience with maize breeding, and pathogen inoculation of host plants in greenhouse studies.
From my work in Mycology, I have extensive experience in sterile technique, microbiological culturing, microscopy and slide preparation (phase-contrast and strereoscopic), micromorphometic analyses, statistical analyses of sampling pools (cluster and principle component analysis) and phylogenetic analysis of fungal populations.
Recent honors/awards
• 2003-2004, honored as a Switzer Environmental Fellow, bestowed upon 20 graduate students nationwide to “enthusiastic individuals who have the ability, determination and integrity to become environmental leaders in the 21st century”.
• 2001-2003, received UC Berkeley’s William Carroll Smith Fellowship, given to only one student at the University of California-Berkeley annually.
• 2001, Research on "Genetic Pollution" honored in the New York Times "Year in Ideas".
Recent Grants
• 2002-2003 Pilot Study Grant, Center for Latin American Studies, UC Berkeley
• 2001-2002 Tinker Research Grant, Center for Latin Am. Studies, UC Berkeley
• 2001. Project grant, The Philanthropic Collaborative, San Francisco
• 2001. Project grant, Jennifer Altman Foundation/Kapor/Starfire Fund, San Francisco
Teaching experience
Over the last 8 years, I have facilitated, supervised, organized, or taught a number of workshops and research curricula at various academic and professional levels. I was responsible for developing and teaching 3 workshops in Oaxaca and Mexico, over a three year period, to capacitate a remote laboratory with standard molecular biology methods for GMO testing. At Berkeley, I supervised 5 undergrad students working on projects within my advisor’s laboratory. I further assisted in teaching three more workshops, (a GMO detection workshop in Berkeley, a biosafety course in Norway and one on fungal cultivation in Mexico--see the “Technical Workshops Conducted/Participated” section for more details). In 1996, I was a teaching assistant instructing General Botany courses at the University of Washington, and responsible for the development of laboratory curriculum and teaching of over 90 students in 3 laboratory sections in a given semester.
Presentations
2004.” Disciplinary differences in GMO Research: Reflections on the case of Mexican maize contamination”. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland.
2003. “From the molecular maize to Mexican maize: Transgene ecology for GMO risk assessment”. Conference: “Risk, Hazard, Damage: Specification of Criteria to Assess Environmental Impact of Genetically Modified Organisms”, University of Bremen, Hanover, Germany.
2003. “Why should we worry? Environmental effects of GMOs” Workshop on the Holistic Foundations for Assessment and Regulation of Genetic Engineering and Genetically Modified Organisms, University of Tromsø, Norway.
2003. “Dollars, dogma and discourse in the new culture of Science: The Mexican maize controversy" 2003 SYMBIOSE Symposium, University of Oslo, Norway.
2003. “Transgene contamination in centers of crop diversity: The case of Mexico and Maize” Workshop on the Holistic Foundations for Assessment and Regulation of Genetic Engineering and Genetically Modified Organisms, University of Tromsø, Norway.
2003. “Exploratory Research & Controversy: The story of the Mexican Maize Scandal”. Norwegian Institute of Gene Ecology, Norway.
2003. “Pros and Con-troversy: Discourse, Dogma and Dollars in the New Culture of Science”. “Progress and its discontents” lecture series, Princeton University, NJ, USA.
2003. “Ecological Conversations: Linking Ecological and Social systems” California College of Arts and Crafts, San Francisco, CA, USA.
2002. "Biology of GMOs" GE & Food Aid International Conference, Lilongwe, Malawi
2002. "Environmental, Health, and Socioeconomic Impacts of GE technology: Realties and Myths" GE and Food Aid International Conference, Lilongwe, Malawi.
2001. "La contaminacíon de maiz criollo por transgenicos en La Sierra Juarez", Oaxaca, Mexíco. Presented to the Union de Comunidades Forestales Zapoteca y Chinanteca (UZACHI), Capulalpam, Oaxaca, Mexico.
1999. "Diversidad ectomicorrícica de Oreomunnea mexicana (Juglandaceae) en la Sierra Juárez, Oaxaca: Consideraciónes ecologicas de la micotrofía en comunidades forestales monodominantes." III Symposium sobre Simbiosis Micorrízica, Guanajuato, Mexico.
Technical Workshops conducted/participated in
2004. “PCR-based detection methods of transgenic papaya: practical considerations for sampling, detection methods, and analysis”, Berkeley, USA
2002. "Taller de capacitacion: Metodos geneticos III” Laboratorio de Recuros Micologicos de Oaxaca, La Trinidad, Oaxaca, Mexico.
2000. "Taller de capacitacion: Metodos geneticos II” Laboratorio de Recuros Micologicos de Oaxaca, La Trinidad, Oaxaca, Mexico.
1999. "Taller de capacitacion: Metodos geneticos I” Laboratorio de Recuros Micologicos de Oaxaca, La Trinidad, Oaxaca, Mexico.
1998. "Collection y identificacíon de hongos forestales" to La union de comunidades forestales Zapoteco-Chinanteca (UZACHI), La Esperanza, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Technical Workshops participated in
2003. “Workshop on the Holistic Foundations for Assessment and Regulation of Genetic Engineering and Genetically Modified Organisms”, University of Tromsø, Norway.
1999. "Cultivo de Hongos" (w/I. Chapela), to UZACHI, Capulalpam, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Conferences attended
2004. 8th International Symposium on Biosafety of Genetically Modified Organisms. Montpellier, France.
2003. Conference on “Risk, Hazard, Damage: Specification of Criteria to Assess Environmental Impact of Genetically Modified Organisms” hosted by the University of Bremen in Hanover, Germany.
2003. SYMBIOSE Symposium, University of Oslo, Norway.
2003. Workshop on the impact of genetically modified plants (GMPs) on microbial communities, Tromsø, Norway.
2002. GE and Food Aid International Conference, Lilongwe, Malawi.
2002. Role of UNEP, UNU and Japan in the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. Tokyo, Japan.
2001. La problema de contaminacíon de maíz Mexicano. Guadalajara, Mexico.
1999. Reunión Ibero. y III Symposium Nacional sobre Simbiosis Micorrízica, Guanajuato, Mexico.
1998. Mycological Society of America annual conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
1997. Mycological Society of America annual conference, Montreal, Canada.
1997. “Fungal Identification strategies workshop”, University of Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica.
1995. First International Conference on Mycorrhizae, Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA.
Conferences/panel discussions organized
2003. “Pulse of Scientific Freedom in the Age of the Biotech Industry”, UC Berkeley.
Posters
2004. Bridging the gaps in biosafety research. 8th International Symposium on the Biosafety of Genetically Modified Organisms. Montpellier, France.
1999."Diversidad ectomicorrícica de Oreomunnea mexicana (Juglandaceae) en la Sierra Juárez, Oaxaca: Consideraciónes ecologicas de la micotrofía en comunidades forestales monodominantes". III Congreso Latinoamericano de Micología, Caracas, Venezuela.
1995. "Assessing the mycorrhizal potential of Xylaria sp. in epiphytic Orchidaceae". First International Conference on Mycorrhizae (ICOM I), Berkeley, CA.
Professional affiliations
International Society for Biosafety Research, member
The Independent Science Panel, member
Interviews with media
I have given interviews to national and international media outlets documenting my research, including Science Magazine, Nature Magazine, National Public Radio (USA), Canadian Broadcasting Company, BBC (UK) El Pais (Spain) The New York Times, Bill Moyer’s NOW, Seedling Magazine, New Scientist, Radio New Zealand, Chanel La Cinq (France) TV Azteca (Mexico), and others within Africa, Asia, and South America.
Travel/Exposure to Cultural Experiences
My work and personal life has afforded me a number of opportunities for travel and exposure to different cultures and languages (which I quite enjoy). Having traveled to over 25 countries in Europe, Central and South America, Asia, Africa, Micronesia, and the Caribbean has shown me many new perspectives of what it personally means to be human to interact with others with compassion, concern, and positive impact. I have spent extensive time in Mexico living in small indigenous Zapoteco and Chinanteco communities in rural Oaxaca, Mexico. I have had a number of extended stays in Osaka, Japan and in Tromsø, Norway. These experiences with the wonderful people I have met on my journeys have truly broadened my own horizons and life choices.
Foreign Languages
English (native), Spanish (fluent), Japanese (conversational)
